A SHORT time after the descent of the Holy
Spirit, and immediately after a season of fervent prayer, Peter and John, going up to the
temple to worship, saw a distressed and poverty-stricken cripple, forty years of age, who
had known no other life than one of pain and infirmity. This unfortunate man had long
desired to go to Jesus and be healed, but he was almost helpless, and was removed far from
the scene of the Great Physician's labors. Finally his earnest pleadings induced some kind
persons to bear him to the gate of the temple. But upon arriving there he discovered that
the Healer, upon whom his hopes were centered, had been put to a cruel death.

His disappointment excited
the pity of those who knew how long he had eagerly hoped and expected to be healed by
Jesus, and they daily brought him to the temple, that the passers-by might be moved to
give him a trifle to relieve his present wants. As Peter and John passed, he begged
charity from them. The disciples regarded him with compassion. "And Peter, fastening
his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us." "Silver and gold have I none;
but such as I have give I thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and
walk."

The poor man's countenance
had fallen when

Page 249

Peter declared his own poverty, but grew bright with hope and faith as the
disciple continued. "And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and
immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and
walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And
all the people saw him walking and praising God: and they knew that it was he which sat
for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and
amazement at that which had happened unto him."

The Jews were astonished that
the disciples could perform miracles similar to those of Jesus. He, they supposed, was
dead, and they had expected all such wonderful manifestations to cease with Him. Yet here
was this man who had been a helpless cripple for forty years, now rejoicing in the full
use of his limbs, free from pain, and happy in believing on Jesus.

The apostles saw the
amazement of the people, and questioned them why they should be astonished at the miracle
which they had witnessed, and regard them with awe as though it were through their own
power they had done this thing. Peter assured them it was done through the merits of Jesus
of Nazareth, whom they had rejected and crucified, but whom God had raised from the dead
the third day. "And His name through faith hath made this man strong, whom ye see and
know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence
of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your
rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all His prophets
that Christ should suffer He hath so fulfilled."

After the performance of this
miracle the people flocked together in the temple, and Peter addressed

Page 250

them in one part of
the temple, while John spoke to them in another part. The apostles, having spoken plainly
of the great crime of the Jews, in rejecting and putting to death the Prince of life, were
careful not to drive them to madness or despair. Peter was willing to lessen the atrocity
of their guilt as much as possible, by presuming that they did the deed ignorantly. He
declared to them that the Holy Ghost was calling for them to repent of their sins and to
be converted; that there was no hope for them except through the mercy of that Christ whom
they had crucified; through faith in Him only could their sins be cancelled by His blood.

Arrest
and Trial of the Apostles

This preaching the
resurrection of Christ, and that through His death and resurrection He would finally bring
up all the dead from their graves, deeply stirred the Sadducees. They felt that their
favorite doctrine was in danger and their reputation at stake. Some of the officials of
the temple, and the captain of the temple, were Sadducees. The captain, with the help of a
number of Sadducees, arrested the two apostles and put them in prison, as it was too late
for their cases to be examined that night.

The following day Annas and
Caiaphas, with the other dignitaries of the temple, met together for the trial of the
prisoners, who were then brought before them. In that very room, and before those very
men, Peter had shamefully denied his Lord. All this came distinctly before the mind of the
disciple as he now appeared for his own trial. He had now an opportunity of redeeming his
former wicked cowardice.

The company present
remembered the part Peter had acted at the trial of his Master, and they flattered
themselves that he could be intimidated by the threat

Page 251

of imprisonment and death. But the
Peter who denied Christ in the hour of His greatest need was the impulsive, self-confident
disciple, differing widely from the Peter who was before the Sanhedrin for examination
that day. He had been converted; he was distrustful of self, and no longer a proud
boaster. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and through its power he had become firm as a
rock, courageous, yet modest, in magnifying Christ. He was ready to remove the stain of
his apostasy by honoring the name he had once disowned.

Peter's
Bold Defense

Hitherto the priests had
avoided having the crucifixion or resurrection of Jesus mentioned; but now, in fulfillment
of their purpose, they were forced to inquire of the accused by what power they had
accomplished the remarkable cure of the impotent man. Then Peter, filled with the Holy
Ghost, addressed the priests and elders respectfully, and declared: "Be it known unto
you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here
before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is
become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

The seal of Christ was on the
words of Peter, and his countenance was illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Close beside him,
as a convincing witness, stood the man who had been so miraculously cured. The appearance
of this man, who but a few hours before was a helpless cripple, now restored to soundness
of body, and being enlightened concerning Jesus of Nazareth,

Page 252

added a weight of testimony
to the words of Peter. Priests, rulers, and people were silent. The rulers had no power to
refute his statement. They had been obliged to hear that which they most desired not to
hear: the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and His power in heaven to perform
miracles through the medium of His apostles on earth.

The defense of Peter, in
which he boldly avowed from whence his strength was obtained, appalled them. He had
referred to the stone set at nought by the builders--meaning the authorities of the
church, who should have perceived the value of Him whom they rejected--but which had
nevertheless become the head of the corner. In those words he directly referred to Christ,
who was the foundation stone of the church.

The people were amazed at the
boldness of the disciples. They supposed, because they were ignorant fishermen, they would
be overcome with embarrassment when confronted by the priests, scribes, and elders. But
they took knowledge that they had been with Jesus. The apostles spoke as He had spoken,
with a convincing power that silenced their adversaries. In order to conceal their
perplexity, the priests and rulers ordered the apostles to be taken away, that they might
counsel among themselves.

They all agreed that it would
be useless to deny that the man had been healed through power given the apostles in the
name of the crucified Jesus. They would gladly have covered up the miracle by falsehoods;
but the work was done in the full light of day and before a crowd of people, and had
already come to the knowledge of thousands. They felt that the work must be immediately
stopped, or Jesus would gain many believers, their own disgrace would

Page 253

follow, and they
would be held guilty of the murder of the Son of God.

But notwithstanding their
disposition to destroy the disciples, they dared not do worse than threaten them with the
severest punishment if they continued to teach or work in the name of Jesus. Thereupon
Peter and John boldly declared that their work had been given them of God, and they could
not but speak the things which they had seen and heard. The priests would gladly have
punished these noble men for their unswerving fidelity to their sacred calling, but they
feared the people, "for all men glorified God for that which was done." So, with
repeated threats and injunctions, the apostles were set at liberty.